Khamzat Chimaev’s old rival, Robert Whittaker, is supporting him in his potential move up in weight to secure UFC gold once again. Previously, Chimaev earned a controversial victory over Whittaker at UFC 308, but he missed out on a title shot for Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight belt due to Sean Strickland stepping in. With swirling rumors on social media regarding a possible shift to light-heavyweight to take on Alex Pereira, Chimaev is gathering some unexpected supporters.
While Chimaev remains undefeated in his professional MMA career, his activity has been hampered by health issues and visa complications. In the past, he has competed as low as welterweight, but he has never taken the significant leap up to the 205lb weight class.
Following the announcement that Dricus Du Plessis will face Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, questions about Khamzat Chimaev’s future began to arise. His fight schedule has been limited to about one bout a year, primarily due to his struggles with U.S. entry and ongoing health challenges.
Recently, fans on social media have started to speculate about an unconfirmed rumor suggesting that Chimaev could be in line for a shot at light-heavyweight gold. This speculation arises despite the fact that he has yet to compete in this weight class, coupled with UFC President Dana White’s hesitations regarding fighters making multiple weight jumps.
One factor lending some credence to this theory is how quickly Alex Pereira has dominated the light-heavyweight division. Within the top five contenders, he has already knocked out every one except for Magomed Ankalaev.
Although it appeared that Pereira was on a direct path to face Ankalaev, this trajectory seems to have shifted. Following his victory over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308, many anticipated that a fight with Ankalaev would be next, given Pereira’s established dominance in the division.
However, Pereira recently took to social media to inform fans that he does not foresee a matchup with Ankalaev coming next. In an Instagram video showcasing fight highlights, he included a notable caption with a crying emoji: “It won’t be Ankalaev!”
Ankalaev has been relentless in his pursuit of both Pereira and the light-heavyweight title, but it seems he may have to wait even longer for that opportunity.
If Khamzat Chimaev receives a shot at the light-heavyweight title, he appears to have a growing number of supporters backing his chances. Many fans on social media believe that Chimaev’s wrestling prowess could pose a significant threat to Pereira, whose kickboxing has been the key to his success in the UFC.
One notable figure who has firsthand experience with Chimaev’s fighting style is former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. In a recent episode of the MMAArcade podcast, Whittaker asserted that Chimaev would win “easily” against Pereira, though he quickly clarified that the bout would still be challenging.
He elaborated that despite Pereira’s striking abilities and background, if Chimaev secures the takedown, it could shift the fight in his favor. Whittaker acknowledged that in a hypothetical scenario where Chimaev tires out, Pereira’s striking proficiency could dominate, especially since he is accustomed to fighting while fatigued. Whittaker concluded by questioning whether the fight would reach that point at all.
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